Woven elastic fabric



Sept. 7, 1937. J, VMQQRE A 2,092,287

WOVEN ELASTIC FABRIC Filed May 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 L21i22l25,| Z910;

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 WOVEN ELASTIC FABRIC John V. Moore, Pawtucket, R. L, assignor to Moore Fabric Company, Pawtucket, R. 1., a corporation of Rhode Island Application May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,572 6 Claims. (01. 139-421) This, invention relates to woven elastic fabric adapted to stretch both warp-wise and weft-wise.

It is the object of my invention to provide novel means for varying the stretch or yield of the fabric 5 in certain portions relative to the stretch or yield thereof in other portions.

In the form of my invention herein disclosed, I

mg a-substantial difference in stretch or yield between different longitudinal portions;

. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional elevations, taken along the lines 22 and 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation, taken along the line 44 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of fabric in which substantial differences in stretch or yield are provided in different transverse portions;

30 Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating differences in elongation of the rubber threads used in different portions of the fabric;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a tubular garment embodying my improvements;

Fig.'9 is a front elevation of a corset having a portion of my improved fabric incdrporated therein, and

40 Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 4 and showing an additional modification. Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, I have shown a piece of two-way stretch woven elastic fabric comprising longitudinally extending portions A and B which are substantially different in relative stretch or yield.

In the portion A I'have provided face warps III and II, back warps I2 and I3, binder warps I4 and covered rubber warps I5, together with elastic 50 filling threads F.

The portion B, shown in Fig; 3, comprises front or face warps I0 and .I I, back warps I2 and I3, binder warps I 4' and elastic filling threads F, all as previously described, but the covered rubber 55 warps l8 are wound to permit increased stretch.

An illustrative stretch ratio for the two sets of covered rubber warps I and I8 is shown in Fig. 7, in which the distance a.b represents a given lengthof a rubber Warp thread I5 or I 8 after it is wound or covered and released from tension.

The distance a--c represents the length of the same portion of one of the rubber warp threads I5 when under tension during the covering operation, while the distance a--d represents the length of a corresponding portion of one of the rubber warp threads I8 when also under tension and during the covering thereof.

In other words, while the threads I5 and I8 are of the same length and commonly of substantially the same size when contracted, the covering of the warp threads I8 permits a substantially greater stretch or yield of these threads than the covering of the warp threads I5. The latter warp threads cannot stretch beyond the length 0-0 to which they are confined by their nonelastic covering, while the threads I8 can stretch easily to the length aP-d. By thus providing different stretch for the threads I5 in the portion A andthe threads I8 in the portion B, the fabric in the portion B is given an easier and longer stretch than the portion A. The combined fabric A-B thus described is particularly adapted. for use in corsets or girdles. in which the portion B provides the garment with a waist section of long and comparatively easy stretch, while the portion A provides a body or hip section of less stretch and greater contracting or confining effect.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a slightly modified construction comprising a middle portion 20 and a series of relatively narrow portions 2|, 22' and 23 at each edge-thereof. The rubber warp threads I5 in the middle portion 20 will have a relatively short stretch as indicated in Fig. 7, while the relatively narrow portions 2|, 22 and 23 will have warp threads 25, 25 and 26 which are usually of the same size but .progressively of easier and longer stretch than the warp threads I5.

The warp threads 26 preferably correspond in stretch to the warp threads I8 previously describedand as shown in Fig. 7, while the warp threads 24 and 25 will be intermediate in stretch between the threads I5 and 26, with the warp threads 25 having a somewhat easier stretch than the warp threads 24.

By thus utilizing warp threads of progressively longer and easier stretch towards the edge of the fabric, the fabric-will yield more easily in the edge. portions, while avoidance of an abrupt change in stretch will eliminate any tendency of the fabric to curl.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a fabric in which the transversely extending portions C are of a different stretch or yield from the intervening transverse portions D. This fabric as shown in Fig. 6 comprises face warps and 3|, back warps 32 and 33, binder warps 34 and covered rubber warps 35, together with elastic filling or weft threads F in the portions C and elastic filling or weft threads F in the portions D. The elastic filling threads F" and F are wound or covered under different stretch ratios, as described for the threads l5 and I8, so that the filling threads F in the portions D have a longer and easier stretch than the filling threads F in the portions C.

When this material is used for corsets or girdles, it may be severed along the line XY-to provide a relatively narrow portion of longer and easier stretch for the waist portion of a garment and a wider portion of less stretch to produce a greater confining or contracting effect in the body or hip portion.

The form of my invention shown in,Figs. 5

and 6 may be produced in a flat weave but is also particularly well adapted for manufacture in tubular form. With the construction above described, it is possible to produce a garment having the same number and size of rubber warp and rubber weft threads in each unit of area throughout the garment, while at the same time different portions thereof have pronounced differences in yield and effect.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a garment in the form of a tubular girdle in which my improved fabric in any of the described forms may be embodied. The fabric when used in such a tubular garment is preferably woven in tubular form and the garment is preferably made without seams.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a corset or similar garment having a panel 4| of my improved fabric inserted therein, which panel is reenforced in the waist portion by utilizing any one of the fabric constructions previously described.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:-

1. A woven two-way stretch elastic fabric having a portion containing rubber threads extending in one direction and with a given normal free stretch, and having an adjacent parallel portion containing the same number and size of covered rubber threads per unit of area extending in the same direction but of a substantially greater and lighter normal free stretch, whereby the latter portion of the fabric has a longer and easier stretch than the former portion.

having an adjacent parallel portion containing the same number and size of covered rubber warp threads per unit of area but of a substantially greater and lighter normal free stretch, whereby the latter portion of the fabric has a longer and easier stretch than the former portion.

3. A woven two-way stretch elastic fabric having a portion containing covered rubber weft threads having a given normal free stretch, and having an adjacent parallel portion containing the same number and size of covered rubber weft threads per unit of area but of a substantially greater and lighter normal free stretch, whereby the latter portion of the fabric has a longer and easier stretch than the former portion.

4. A woven two-way stretch elastic fabric having a portion containing covered rubber warp threads having a given normal free stretch, and having a parallel portion containing the same number and size of covered rubber warp threads per unit of area but of a substantially greater and lighter normal free stretch, whereby the latter portion of the fabric has a longer and easier stretch than the former portion, and said fabric having an additional portion between said parallel portions, in which latter portion the same size and number of covered rubber warp threads per unit of area are provided, which threads have a normal free stretch between the stretches of the threads in the other two portions.

5. A woven two-way stretch elastic fabric hav ing a portion containing covered rubber warp threads having a given normal free stretch, and having a parallel portion containing the same number and size of covered rubber warp threads per unit of area but of a substantially greater and lighter normal free stretch, whereby the latter portion of the fabric has a longer and easier stretch than the former portion, and said fabric having a plurality of additional portionsbetween said parallel portions, in which latter portions the same size and number of covered rubber warp threads are provided, which threads in said additional portions are. of different normal free stretches but, all between the stretches of the threads in the other two portions and increasing progressively towards said latter parallel portion.

6. A corset, girdle or similar garment having a vertically extending panel formed. of woven twoway stretch elastic fabric, said panel comprising a waist portion containing covered rubber warp threads having a given normal free stretch and an upper parallel portion containing the same number and size of covered rubber warp threads per unit of area but of a substantially greater and lighter normal free stretch and both portions containing the same size and number of elastic weft threads, the upper portion of the fabric having a longer and easier stretch than the waist portion.

JOHN V. MOORE. 

